Conf 


Duke  University  Libraries 

The  Colonel's  c 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #679 


No.  100. 

THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION. 

A  CHIEF  OF  SINNERS  MADE  A  CHIEF  OF  SAINTS. 


If  there  is  any  knowledge  which  ought  to  fill  the 
heart  of  man  with  joyful  emotions,  it  is  the  knowledge 
of  Jesus  Christ  as  He  is  set  before  us  in  the  gospel.  It 
is  like  sunshine  to  the  dreary  waste  of  a  Lapland  win- 
ter. Without  it,  all  is  cold,  dark,  and  desert.  The  earth 
is  bound  with  adamantine  chains.  Vegetation  is  at  an 
end.  The  fresh  verdure  of  the  fields— the  foliage  of  the 
trees  —  and  the  varied  beauties  of  the  landscape,  are  all 
lost  in  one  dull  and  cheerless  monotony.  Like  the  poor 
Laplander,  man  escapes  from  his  misery  only  by  bury- 
ing himself  in  his  darkened  hut,  and  by  drowning  all 
thought  in  an  endless  round  of  varied  occupation.  Yes, 
such  is  the  condition  of  every  human  heart  until  the 
light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God,  as  exhibited 
in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  shines  within  him.  All 
around  is  dark  and  dreary.  All  nature  reflects,  even 
amidst  its  beauty,  the  angry  frown  of  a  holy  and  offend- 
ed God,  against  whom  man  has  sinned,  and  whose  "an- 
ger burnetii  unto  the  lowest  hell."  The  whole  animated 
"  creation  groaneth  and  travaileth  in  pain."  Man,  every- 
where and  in  all  circumstances,  is  u  subject  to  vanity." 
Re  "walks  in  a  va*i  show"  ''The  fashion  of  the 
world    passeth  away,"  and  all   the  joy  and  pleasure  of 


3  THE    COLONELS    COKYERIION. 

earth  are  like  sparks  of  fire,  which  appear  but  for  a 
moment  and  then  vanish  away.  But  dark  as  is  man's 
present,  still  darker  is  his  future.  Death  stares  him  in 
the  face — the  grave  yawns  before  him  at  every  step  — 
and  "hell  from  beneath  is  moved  to  meet  him  at  his 
coming." 

How  worthy,  then,  of  the  aceeptance  of  every  man  is 
the  "faithful''  and  infallible  "saying" — the  glorious 
"gospel  of  the  blessed  God"  —  the  "good  tidings  of 
great  joy"  —  that  "Christ  Jesus,"  the  eternal  Son  of 
God,  though  "in  the  beginning  with  God  and  equal 
with  God,"  nevertheless  came  down  into  this  sinful 
world  that  "He  might  save"  from  present  danger  and 
everlasting  ruin,  miserable  sinners.  Oh,  how  worthy 
to  be  heard,  regarded,  and  obeyed  !  How  worthy  to  be 
welcomed,  not  only  into  the  understanding,  but  even 
into  the  inmost  heart,  is  this  merciful  message  of  our 
most  gracious  God  —  this  "unspeakable  gift"  —  this 
adorable  Redeemer,  "in  knowledge  of  whom  standeth 
eternal  life. 

Oh,  what  a  new  and  wondrous  song, 
That  name  affords  the  human  tongue  ! 
Of  joy  it  prompts  the  sweetest  strain, 
It  wings  the  heavy  hours  of  pain. 
When  life  draws  near  its  dread  eelipse, 
'T  is  the  last  sound  upon  our  lips; 
When  heaven  unfolds,  't  will  be  the  first 
That  from  our  raptured  hearts  shall  burst. 

Such,  undoubtedly,  is  the  joyful  experience  of  every 
man  who  is  led  by  the  spirit  of  God,  to  the  true  knowl- 
edge of  his  disease  and  danger  —  of  his  guilt  and  the 
way  of  deliverance  and  escape. 

Behold  the  Apostle  Paul.  Once  he  was  the  most 
proud,  haughty,  and  confident  of  men.  He  regarded 
himself  as  superior  in  morality,  and  even  in  religion,  to 


THE   COLONEL  S  CONVERSION.  .5 

most  of  those  who  stood  highest  in  the  community  and 
the  church.  He  could  even  challenge  the  scrutiny  and 
claim  the  approbation  of  God,  as  in  all  tilings  "touch- 
ing the  righteousness  which  is  by  the  law  blameless. " 
But  his  religion  was  no  more  than  a  proud  and  self- 
righteous  observance  of  ordinances,  rites,  and  ceremo- 
nies, and  his  morality  offered  no  rebuke  to  hatred  and 
revenge,  intolerance  and  persecution.  Enlightened, 
however,  by  the  teaching  of  God's  Word  and  Spirit, 
Paul  saw  that  his  religion  was  hypocrisy,  and  his  mo- 
rality selfish  pride,  and  that  he  possessed  neither  love 
to  God  nor  love  to  man.  He  saw  that  he  had  been  em- 
ploying God  and  his  religion  for  the  mere  purpose  of 
self-exaltation,  and  of  securing  the  honor  and  applause 
of  men  —  that  a  due  regard  to  the  character  and  claims 
of  God  "was  not  in  all  his  thoughts'' — and  that  he  was 
"steeped  to  the  very  lips"  in  ungodliness,  unbelief,  and 
sin.  His  views  of  God,  of  God's  law,  and  of  the  na- 
ture, extent,  and  malignity  of  sin,  were  entirely  changed, 
so  that,  instead  of  regarding  himself  as  the  greatest  of 
saints,  lie  felt  himself  to  be  "  the  chief  of  sinners." 
It  was  no  longer  a  question  with  him,  how  he  might 
secure  the  greatest  favor  and  friendship  on  the  part  of 
God,  and  the  highest  honor  from  his  fellow-men.  But 
filled  with  self-loathing  and  contempt,  and  conscious  of 
having  insulted  and  provoked  God  to  the  very  uttermost, 
his  wonder  and  amazement  were,  that  God  had  borne 
with  him  in  such  long  enduring  patience,  and,was  still 
willing  and  waiting  to  be  gracious.  That  God,  whom 
he  had  so  foully  dishonored  and  blasphemed,  should  be 
even  yet  willing  to  be  reconciled — that  Jesus,  whom  he 
had  persecuted,  nay,  even  "crucified  afresh  and  put  to 
an  open  shame,''  should  magnify  in  his  conversion  and 
apostleship  the  riches  and  omnipotence  of  his  grace  — 


THE  COLONEL  fl  CONVERSION. 


and  that  he  who  had  been  the  greatest  enemy  of  the 
gospel,  should  now  be  noted  as  its  chiefest  apostle — this 
was  to  Paul  a  mystery  and  a  miracle  of  mercy. 

To  that  mercy,  and  to  it  alone,  he  refers  all  his  hope 
and  all  his  salvation.  The  grace  of  our  Lord  "  was 
exceeding  abundant,"  and  as  high  above  all  merit  or 
expectation  as  are  the  heavens  above  the  earth.  It  had 
pardoned  all  his  sins  —  his  blasphemies  —  his  persecu- 
tions—  his  evil  and  malignant  example  —  his  murder- 
ous connivance  and  co-operation  in  the  destruction  of 
Christ's  faithful  followers  —  and  the  whole  spirit  and 
temper  of  his  ungodly  heart  That  mercy  had  renewed 
ln's  soul,  and  sanctified  his  motives  and  principles  of 
conduct.  An  entire  change  was  effected  in  his  senti- 
ments, feelings,  and  character.  All  the  faculties  of  his 
mind  received  a  new  impulse  and  direction.  New 
views  of  Christ,  of  religion,  of  life  and  death,  of  time 
and  eternity,  took  possession  of  his  mind.  "Old  tilings 
passed  away,  and  behold  all  things  became  new."  The 
mercy  of  Christ  brought  both  regeneration  and  pardon 
to  his  guilty  and  depraved  spirit.  And  having  made 
him  "a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus,"  the  grace  which 
had  beo-un,  continued  to  carry  on,  the  work  of  salva'ion 
in  his  soul,  to  influence  his  affections,  and  to  mature  his 
Christian  character.  This  grace  filled  him  with  a  love 
to  Christ,  whose  mercy  he  had  obtained,  which  tri- 
umphed over  every  other  feeling  of  his  heart;  led 
him  infinitely  to  prefer  his  Master  to  every  other  being 
in,  the  universe  ;  and  to  count  all  tilings  but  loss  for  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 
That  mercy  made  his  spirit  yearn  with  tender  and 
earnest  compassion  over  all  who  still  rejected  the  saU 
vation  he  had  found.  It  consecrated  him  with  an 
absorbing  and  untiring  devotion  to  the  service  of  Christ 


and  the  spiritual  welfare  of  hi?  fellow-men.  It  inspired 
him  with  unequalled  fortitude  and  magnanimity  in  the 
endurance  of  shame,  obloquy,  and  disgrace;  of  hunger, 
nakedness,  and  peril;  so  that  he  "took  pleasure  in  in- 
firmities, in  reproaches,  in  necessities,  in  persecutions, 
in  distresses,  for  Christ's  sake."  And  when  at  last  death 
itself  appeared  in  its  most  frightful  form  of  martyrdom, 
he  was  "ready  to  be  offered  up,"  since  "to  him  to  live 
was  Christ,  and  to  die  was  gain."  But,  above  all, 
while  "  not  a  whit  behind  the  very  chiefest  of  apostles," 
with  what  unparalleled  humility  did  tliis  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  fill  the  Apostle's  soul  !  In  his  own 
estimation,  lie  was  "the  chief  of  sinners,"  not  worthy 
to  be  called  an  Apostle,  because  he  persecuted  the 
Church  of  God;  and  the  life  that  he  now  lived,  he  lived 
by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  was  to  him  "  all 
and  in  all." 

"  I  thank  Christ  Jt  sus  our  Lord,"  says  the  Apostle, 
who  hath  enabled  me,  for  that  he  counted  me  faithful, 
putting  me  into  the  ministry;  who  was  before  a  blas- 
phemer, and  a  persecutor,  and  injurious;  but  L  obtained 
mercy,  because  I  did  it  ignorantly  in  unbelief.  And  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  was  exceeding  abundant  with  faith 
and  love  wbich  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  This  is  a  faitbful 
saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I  am  chief. 
Howbeit,  for  this  cause  I  obtained  mercy,  that  in  me  first 
Christ  Jesus  might  show  forth  all  long  suffering,  for  a 
pattern  to  them  which  should  hereafter  believe  on  Him 
to  life  everlasting." 

How  touching  were  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  Apostle  makes  this  overpowering  appeal  to  his  own 
example,  as  a  motive  and  an  encouragement  to  every 
needy  sinner!     Thirty  years  had  elapsed   since  he  had 


the  colonel's  conversion. 


found  ihis  mercy.  He  was  now  "such  an  one  as  Paul 
the  aged."  The  spring  and  summer  of  his  life  had  de- 
parted. Winter  had  crowned  his  head  with  the  snows 
of  age,  and  bowed  his  body  beneath  the  weight  of  many 
infirmities.  He  had  endured  also  every  conceivable 
trial,  because  of  his  adherence  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 
In  every  city,  bonds  and  imprisonment  awaited  him;  and 
at  all  times  his  life  and  liberty  were  exposed  to  the 
greatest  jeopardy.  But  none  of  these  things  moved  him. 
He  was  at  this  very  time  a  prisoner,  and  nothing'  but 
apostacy  could  secure  him  against  the  sudden  execution 
o(  anticipated  death.  Instead,  however,  of  being  either 
ashamed  or  afraid,  he  was  exceeding  joyful  in  all  his 
tribulations.  As  his  outward  man  perished  anil  decayed, 
his  inward  man  was  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  renewed 
day  by  day;  and  thanking  Christ  Jesus  his  Lord  for  the 
mercy  manifested  toward  him,  he  was  now  ready  to  be 
offered  up,  assured  that  he  frhould  receive  a  crown  of 
righteousness  which  the  Lord  the  righteous  Judge  should 
give  him,  and  not  him  only,  but  to  them  also  who  should 
love  his  appearing. 

As  Paul,  the  chief  vl'  sinners,  was  thus  made  an  illus- 
trious example,  a  pattern  of  the  sovereign,  free,  and 
efficacious  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  so  it  lias 
pleased  God  from  time  to  time  to  find  those  who  seek 
him  not,  and  to  magnify  in  their  conversion,  and  subse- 
quent holy  life,  the  riches  of  his  grace  and  the  security 
and  perseverance  of  believers,  as  a  pattern  and  encour- 
agement for  all  those  who  believe  on  him  to  eternal  life. 

Sucb  was  Augustine  in  ancient  times.  Such  were 
Bunyan,  Newlon,  and  Colonel  Gardiner,  in  modern 
times.  Such,  more  recently,  was  the  remarkable,  con- 
version of  Dr.  Capadose,  a  Jewish  physician  of  Amster- 
dam; and  such,  also,  to  a  very  remarkable  extent,  was 
the  late  Colonel  \V Y , 


THE  COLONEL  S  CONVERSION.  7 

Colonel  Y.  was  born  in  the  City  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 
August  12,  IT77.  lie  had  a  very  pious  mother,  of  whose 
cart — in  consequence  of  the  deaih  of  his  father,  and  his 
removal  from  her  —  lie  was  deprived,  when  he  was  only 
seven  years  old.  He  was  thus  left  an  orphan,  and 
brought  up  without,  the  advantages  of  that  religious  edu- 
cation, and  of  that  "nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord.''  which  it  would  have  been  the  first  great  object 
of  that  pious  mother  to  bestow.  Her  character,  example, 
and  prayers  were  still,  however,  for  some  time  left  him, 
together  with  t lie  mercy  of  a  covenant-keeping  God, 
who  is  the  Judge  of  the  widow  and  the  Father  of  the 
fatherless,  and  who,  when  it  pleases  him  that  father  and 
mother  should  forsake  us,  takes  up  those  for  whom  the 
effectual  fervent  prayers  of  a  righteous  parent  have 
availed  much. 

So  it  was  with  Colonel  Y.  For  a  long  time  he  seemed 
utterly  abandoned  to  his  own  evil  and  ungodly  heart,  and 
like  ^very  child  left  to  himself,  to  go  astray  like  a  lost 
sheep,  departing  from  the  living  God,  and  running-  into 
every  excess  of  evil. 

In  early  youth,  he  was  accustomed  to  go  to  church, 
but  like  some  children,  who  are  fatally  and  permanently 
injured,  lie  was  allowed  to  sit  away  from  observation  and 
restraint,  in  the  singing  loft,  where  he  associated  with 
wicked  and  ungodly  boys,  more  evil  than  himself,  so  that 
instead  of  being  profiled,  he  was  made  more  hardened 
by  his  church-going  associations.  This  training  in  evil, 
in  connection  with  the  want  of  all  religious  training;  at 
home,  made  him,  while  young  in  years,  a  veteran  in 
pride,  passion,  and  ungodliness.  At  a  very  early  age, 
he  made  the  desperate  determination  never  to  go  to 
church  again.  Thus  did  Satan  blind  his  conscience  by 
a  plea  of  false  honor,  and  lead  him,  as  he  does  so  many, 


8  THE    COLONEL  8  CONVERSION. 

captive  at  his  will,  protected  against  all  the  assaults  of 
truth,  and  exposed  to  every  temptation  and  to  every 
device  of  the  great  adversary,  who  goeth  about  seeking 
whom  he  may  devour. 

From  that  early  period  of  his  boyish  thoughtlessness 
until  his  fiftieth  year,  Colonel.  Y.  never  read  the  Bible 
and  never  offered  up  a  prayer.  Nor  did  lie  ever  go  to 
church,  except  on  funeral  and  public  occasions,  until 
about  his  sixtieth  year,  when  he  was  led  there  under 
deep  conviction  of  sin  by  the  invisible  hand  of  the  Di- 
vine Spirit. 

During  these  many  years,  lie  lived  in  pleasure,  and 
was  dead  while  he  lived,  loving  and  serving  the  crea- 
ture more  than  the  Creator,  who  is  God  over  all  and 
blessed  for  ever.  He  studied  and  became  a  lawyer. 
He  entered  into  public  life,  where  he  always  held  some 
honorable  office  in  connection  with  the  stale.  Fie  mar- 
ried and  became  the  father  of  several  children.  Me  was 
all  heart,  and  soul,  and  strength,  and  mind,  in  military 
and  political  affairs,  devoting  himself  with  intense  en- 
thusiasm to  whatever  seemed  to  bear  upon  the  honor 
and  glory  of  his  native  state.  But  during  all  this  time 
of  God's  long-suffering  mercy,  he  thought  not  of — he 
feared  not  —  he  honored  not  —  and  he  cared  not  for  — 
that  God  who  was  yet  to  bring  him  into  judgment,  and 
who  was  able  to  cast,  at  any  moment,  both  soul  and 
body  into  hell  for  ever. 

It  is  truly  astonishing  how  desperately  wicked,  and 
how  deplorably  ignorant  and  hardened  a  man  may  be, 
in  the  very  midst  of  Christian  influences.  Colonel  Y. 
lived  during  this  lengthened  period  utterly  destitute,  as 
he  affirmed,  of  any  religious  opinions  whatever.  He 
believed  in  God,  but  did  not  know  who  or  what  Christ 
was.     He  did   not  even   realize  or  sensibly  feel  that  he 


THE   COLONEL  S   CONVERSION'. 


had  a  soul,  and,  therefore,  lie  never  thought  of  death  or 
of  hell.  He  encountered,  in  this  condition  of  fatalistic 
thoughtlessness;  tlie  most  imminent  and  frequent  dan-  .. 
ger.  The  Bible,  or  any  other  religious  book",  he  never 
once  read,  and  the  presentation  of  the  truth  made  no 
impression  upon  hirjp  whatever. 

Fl is  manner  of  life  during  these  years  of  his  ignorance 
and  impenitence  needs  not  to  be  rehearsed.  To  use  his 
own  expressive  language,  he  was  u  living  in  the  Great- 
est wickedness,  and  enjoying-  life  very  much."  But  lie 
was  yet  to  be  a  pattern  of  the  power  and  efficacy,  of  the 
sovereignty  and  freeness,  of  divine  grace.  God  had  not 
ca?t  him  off",  and  a  mother's  prayers  were  yet  to  be  an- 
swered. To  this  end  God  sent  him  a  truly  faithful, 
pious,  and  devoted  wife,  who,  though  she  mourned  in 
bitterness,  and  died  without  the  Sight  of  his  salvation, 
believed  against  hope,  that  he  would  yet  be  converted, 
and  agonized  for  him  in  prayer  to  God  that  he  might  be 
saved.  Dying,  she  left  him  her  children,  her  prayers, 
her  Bible,  and  her  pious  books",  among  which  was  Bax- 
ter's Saint's  Rest. 

Another  step  by  whigh  redeeming  grace  first  led  his 
roving  feet  to  seek  the  heavenly  road,  was  by  bringing 
him  into  retirement.  He  was  located  in  the  Citadel  as 
Arsenal  Keeper  in  the  year  18l}2.  Here  lie  was  neces- 
sarily much  alone,  and  thus  led  to  consider  his  ways. 
The  mercy  of  God  had  provided  a  shelter  for  him,  and 
the  Spirit  of  God  had  wrought  in  him  an  inward  sense 
of  sin  and  misery.  The  actions  of  his  past  life,  like 
ghosts  of  memory,  crowded  upon  him,  and  while  con- 
science accused,  his  own  heart  condemned  him.  The 
images  of  a  departed  mother  and  a  sainted  wife  arose 
before  his  troubled  spirit,  even  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  upon  men.      He  remem- 


10  THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION. 

bered  that  mother's  prayers,  and  that  wife's  interceding 

groans,  and  lie  now  turned  to  her  unopened  Bible,  and 
her  well  worn  and  tear-bedewed  Saint's  Everlasting- 
Rest,  and  found  in  them  that  peace  which  the  world 
had  never  given,  and  which,  blessed  be  God,  it  could 
never  afterward  take  away. 

This  transition  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the 
kingdom  of  Satan  into  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  was  immediate  in  its  character, 
and  yet  very  gradual  in  its  full  development.  He  was, 
like  Paul,  at  once  determined  to  be  a  Christian,  and  yet, 
like  him,  it  was  necessary  that  he  should  be  instructed 
in  ord<*r  to  know  what  he  should  do.  While,  therefore, 
he  was  delighted  with  the  Bible,  he  was  minded  to  re- 
main a  year  in  private  and  hide  his  convictions  in  his 
own  heart.  When  in  this  condition  of  mind,  he  was 
led  to  attend  a  night  service,  when  the  writer  preach- 
ed on  the  character  and  conduct  of  Nicodemus.  The 
truth  was  a  word  in  due  season,  an  arrow  which,  though 
drawn  at  a  venture,  was  guided  by  unerring  wisdom. 
It  reached  his  heart,  and  was  made  the  power  of  God 
to  the  full  conviction  and  complete  establishment  of  his 
soul.  He  heard  the  same  preacher  aofain,  and  very  soon 
after  called  upon  him,  and  originated  that  acquaintance 
which  afterward  ripened  into  friendship  and  regard. 

It  was  truly  a  delightful  task  to  explain  more  perfect- 
ly the  way  of  God  to  one  so  willing  and  eager  to  learn 
and  to  obey.  His  first  act  was  an  open  and  unreserved 
confession  of  all  his  past  sinfulness,  and  his  desire  and 
determination  to  make  all  the  reparation  he  could  to 
man,  and  to  acknowledge,  bewail,  and  repent  of  it  both 
before  God  and  man.  Of  this  he  gave  a  remarkable 
illustration.  Soon  after  he  had  connected  himself  with 
the  congregation,  and  before  it  was  prudent   for  him  to 


THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION.  1  I 

unite  with  the  church,  a  communion  season  look  place. 
I  had  entered  the  putpit  and  was  about  to  commence 
the  service,  when  Colonel  Y.  came  up  the  pulpit  stairs. 
He  expressed  a  most  ardent  wish,  if  it  was  still  possi- 
ble, to  unite  with  the  church  at  that  time;  and  as  he 
knew  it  was  too  late  to  be  practicable,  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  church,  he  was  ready,  if  deemed  sufficient, 
to  come  out  before  the  congregation,  and  there  acknowl- 
edge his  past  sins,  make  an  open  confession  of  his  peni- 
tence, and  submit  to  any  examination  I  might  think 
proper.  But  when  the  inexpediency  of  such  a  course 
was  pointed  out,  he  cheerfully  acquiesced. 

Of  the  Bible,  lie  was  necessarily  very  ignorant.  Call- 
ing to  see  him  at  the  Citadel,  he  exhibited  the  armory 
with  its  terrible  array  of  bloody  weapons.  I  hope,  said  I, 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  "men  shall  beat  their 
swords  into  plough-shares  and  their  spears  into  pruning 
hooks;  when  nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against 
nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more."  Beauti- 
ful, lie  replied,  but  pray  where  is  it  from?  On  learning 
that  it  was  from  the  Book  of  Isaiah,  he  said  [  must  ex- 
cuse him,  as  he  really  was  not  acquainted  with  the 
books  or  contents  of  the  Bible,  but  that,  with  God's  help, 
it  should  not  be  so  long.  Nor  was  it  —  for,  having  pro- 
cured for  him  Scott's  Commentary  on  the  Scriptures,  he 
had  within  a  year  studed  every  portion  of  it,  and  con- 
tinued to  read  it  regularly,  with  the  text  and  observa- 
tions, once  a  year,  even  to  the  end.  He  became  to  his 
family  a  patriarchal  priest,  as  well  as  protector,  holding 
with  them  constant  religious  services,  not  only  morning 
and  evening,  but  also  on  every  sabbath,  when  prevented 
from  attendance  at  the  sanctuary.  For  years,  also,  and 
until  health  failed  him,  he  was  a  diligent  reader,  of 
various  religious  and   devotional   works,  and   became   a 


12 


THK   COLONEL  S   CON  VKRfclON'. 


scribe  well  instructed  in  tlie  kingdom  of  Gnd,  and  thor- 
ou o-Jt I y  furnished  unto  every  good  word  and  work. 

Like  Paul,  Colonel  Y.  carried  all  his  natural  boldness, 
affectionateness,  and  ingenuous  candor,  into  his  religion. 
He  appeared  to  have  no  thought  of  the  ridicule  or  of  the 
reproach,  or  the  jeers  and  opprobrious  insinuations  of 
the  world  around  him.  He  gloried  in  the  cross,  and 
knew  nothing  among  men  but  Jesus  and  him  crucified. 
He  began  at  once  to  speak  to  all  around  him,  and  his 
blessed  Jesus  and  the  joys  of  his  salvation  were  the  be- 
ginning and  the  end  of  all  his  conversation.  Probably  no 
one  ever  came  into  contact  with  him,  upon  such  terms  as 
gave  him  any  opportunity  of  telling  them  what  God  had 
done  for  his  soul,  without  being  urged  to  u  taste  and  see 
that  the  Lord  is  good"  lo  all  that  call  upon  him  in 
sincerity.  There  are  many  living,  with  whom  he  has 
repeatedly  labored,  beseeching  them,  even  with  tears,  to 
be  reconciled  to  God,  and  have  peace  with  him  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Nor  did  lie  confide  in  his  words. 
He  travailed  for  them  in  prayer,  and  wept  over  them  in 
secret  places.  May  those  prayers  still  be  answered,  and 
those  pleadings  still  be  heard  ! 

Nor  was  he  less  ready  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  his 
fellow  pilgrims,  as  he  met  them  on  the  way.  Mis  heart 
was  full  and  his  tongue  eloquent;  and  it  was  indeed 
edifying  to  hear  him  as  he  encouraged  the  timid,  cheered 
the  desponding,  enlightened  the  doubling,  and  stimulated 
ail  to  aspire  to  the  loftiest  heights  of  assured  faith,  and 
hope,  and  joy.  These  he  had  himself  attained  in  an 
eminent  degree,  and  to  their  attainment  he  thought  every 
Christian  privileged  to  reach.  He  lived  in  an  unclouded 
sunshine.  God  was  his  sun  and  shield,  and  his  exceed- 
ing great  reward,  in  keeping  whose  commandments  he 
found   great  and  uninterrupted  delight.     It  was  a  thrill- 


THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION'.  13 

ing  scene  when  a  distinguished  scholar  and  Christian,  on 
taking  farewell  of  him,  expressed  to  him  the  obligations 
under  which  he  lay  for  his  counsels,  prayers,  and  exam- 
ple, in  all  his  Christian  course,  and  the  earnest  hope 
that  they  would  be  permitted  to  resume  their  intercourse 
and  progressive  advancement,  in  a  holier  and  happier 
world.  Ah,  yes!  they  who  have  turned  many  to  right- 
eousness,  and  comforted  and  edified  one  of  Christ's  least 
disciples  here  on  earth,  shall  shine  as  stars  in  the  firma- 
ment of  heaven. 

Like  Paul,  Colonel  Y.  was  characterized  by  active, 
devoted,  and  self-sacrificing  charity.  He  was,  indeed, 
willing  to  distribute,  and  zealous  in  every  good  word  and 
work.  To  his  ability,  yea,  and  beyond  his  ability,  he 
was  forward  in  every  benevolent  expenditure.  At  one 
of  our  first  interviews  he  expressed  his  interest  in  the 
missionary  enterprise,  and  as  he  was  then  nearly  sixty 
years  of  age,  he  wished  to  give  a  dollar  for  every  year 
of  his  life,  as  an  offering  of  his  first  fruits  to  the  Lord. 
This  he  did,  and  that,  too,  out  of  a  very  moderate  in- 
come; and  he  continued  to  give  to  that  and  every  other 
religious  object  to  an  extent  very  rarely  equalled.  Noth- 
ing pained  him  so  much  as  his  inability  to  give  more. 
So  sure  and  clear  was  his  faith  in  Christ,  that  he  com- 
mitted unto  him  not  only  the  treasures  of  the  life  to  come, 
which,  because  they  have  never  actually  possessed  them, 
men  are  ready  enough  to  do,  but  also  the  treasures  of  the 
life  that  now  is,  as  far  as  within  his  possession,  which 
men  are  so  reluctant  to  part  with  and  so  eager  to  obtain. 
lie  consecrated  one-tenth  of  all  his  income  to  charity, 
in  the  proper  sense,  besides  his  general  contributions  to 
churches  and  other  objects  of  public  benefit,  and  his 
private  acts  of  munificent  bounty  to  the  poor  and  needy. 
For    years    he    had    been    a    dying    man,    having    been 


14  THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION. 

brought  down  to  the  gates  of  death  by  various  attacks  of 
dangerous  disease.  Until  thus  enfeebled  and  incapable  % 
of  going  out  ai  night,  lie  was  an  invariable  attendant 
upon  every  service,  prayer  meeting,  and  lecture — fre- 
quent at  the  sabbath  school — and  ready  to  serve  on  any 
committee  on  behalf  of  any  interest  of  the  church.  He 
was  then,  also,  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  houses  of  the 
sick  and  poor,  and  by  his  prayers  and  alms  comforted 
and  relieved  many. 

Nor  was  Colonel  Y.  less  analogous  to  Paul,  or  less  a 
pattern  to  them  who  believe,  in  his  maturity  or  piety. 
Faith  was  his  crowning  grace,  as  it  was  that  of  the 
Apostle.  From  having  been  a  grain  cf  mustard  seed,  it 
became  a  great  tree.  It  was  to  him  literally  the  sub- 
stance of  things  hoped  for  and  the  evidence  of  tilings  not 
seen.  It  removed  mountains — filled  up  valleys — made 
crooked  places  straight,  and  rough  places  smooth.  It 
never  failed  him.  Faith  and  prayer  were  his  panoply 
against  all  adversaries,  his  fortress  in  all  dangers,  his 
very  present  help  in  every  time  of  need.  In  everything 
by  supplication  and  prayer  with  thanksgiving,  lie  sought 
the  Lord.  And  as  in  all  his  ways  he  acknowledged  God, 
and  trusted  in  him,  he  found  God  verily  faithful  to  his 
promises  and  better  than  his  word.  Of  this,  how  very 
emphatic  was  the  illustration,  when  his  last  hours  were 
cheered  by  the  intelligence  that,  through  the  kind  agency 
of  his  nephew,  his  situation  was  secured  to  his  son  as  a 
home  for  his  family.  He  literally  lived  and  labored  and 
walked  by  faith  for  years,  and  found  it  his  meat  and  his 
medicine.  This  nerved  him  for  scenes  of  peculiar  trial, 
and  gave  him  boldness  and  an  utterance  which  aston- 
ished and  abashed  his  detractors.  He  prosecuted  every 
work,  performed  every  duty,  encountered  every  hazard, 
and   achieved  herculean   tasks,  by  the  supernatural  aid 


THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION.  15 

den  red  from  this  principle.  His  faith  was  more  like 
that  of  the  Apostles  and  primitive  believers  than  that 
of  any  man  I  ever  knew,  and  would  have  appeared 
fanatical  and  wild,  had  it  not  been  associated  with  such 
modesty,  such  mildness,  and  such  constant  and  wonder- 
ful attestations  in  the  providence  of  God.  Twice  tin's 
faith  seemed  t'o  restore  him  when  pronounced  to  be 
beyond  possible  recovery,  and  I  have  not  known  how, 
without  it,  he  could  have  lived  for  years  before  his 
death.  This,  he  said,  was  his  chief  and  only  support, 
and  while  it  made  him  ready  at  any  moment  to  die,  and 
unwilling  to  pray  for  a  moment's  longer  life,  it  left  all 
that  regarded  his  life,  his  health,  his  fortune,  and  his 
family,  entirely  to  the  disposal  of  his  gracious  God. 
His  will  was  therefore  swallowed  up  in  the  will  of  God, 
and  while  lie  was  diligent  in  the  use  of  all  means  for 
the  improvement  of  his  health  and  fortune,  he  had  no 
anxiety  about  the  future  and  no  unhappiness  about  the 
past,  but  had  learned  in  whatever  state  he  was,  to  be 
therewith  content.  No  man  was  more  diligent  and  cor- 
rect in  business,  and  none  more  fervent  in  spirit,  serv- 
ing the  Lord.  His  dying  charge  was,  utell  my  brethren 
of  the  happiness  I  am  enjoying  and  the  misery  of  those 
who  are  shut  out  from  the  blessed  Saviour,  and  beseech 
them  to  be  much  in  prayer  and  more  in  effort." 

Colonel  YVs  piety  was,  therefore,  cheerful  and  happy. 
Joy  was  his  constant  companion  and  guest.  He  re- 
joiced evermore.  In  sickness  or  health — when  at  home 
or  abroad — when  in  difficulty  or  distress — when  perse- 
cuted or  defamed — he  was  at  all  times  and  alike  happy — 
happy  in  the  assurance  of  God's  favor  which  is  life, 
and  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  him.  This  joy  increased  as  death  drew  near.  It 
was  his  habitual  spirit,  days  and  weeks  before  any  signs 


Iff  THF,  COLONELS   COXVER£IO¥. 

of  sickness  appeared,  and  it  soothed  and  comforted  him 
in  all  time  of  his  last  days  of  suffering  and  prostration. 
His  faith  was  like  the  shining  light  of  the  rising  sun — 
shining  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.  One  of 
his  last  acts  was  an  act  of  praise.  Learning  that  he 
was  approaching  death,  he  requested  his  wife  to  have 
family  worship,  and  as. his  hearing  had  become  impaired, 
to  let  the  children  sing  as  loudly  as  they  could  that  he 
might  hear.  And  as  they  proceeded,  he  united  in  the 
song  of  praise,  while  the  tear  of  joy  rolled  down  his 
fading  cheeks. 

The  secret  of  his  extraordinary  faith,  and  hope,  and 
joy,  was  his  extraordinary  devotion,  spirituality,  study 
of  the  word  of  God,  and  prayer.  His  faith  was  no  an- 
tinomian  boast,  or  fanatical  enthusiasm.  It  was  the 
pure  flame  of  heaven,  fed  by  constant  oil  bought  at  the 
heavenly  mart,  and  rising  from  a  lamp  daily  trimmed 
and  kept  burning.  He  was  continually  in  the  spirit 
and  frame  of  prayer,  and  he  spent  hours  every  day  in 
family  and  private  devotion.  At  sunrise,  morning,  noon, 
and  evening,  he  was  found  using  his  favorite  guide, 
Bishop  Andrews'  Devotions,  which  he  interspersed  with 
frequent  and  full  ejaculations.  And  when  all  around 
him  were  curtained  in  sleep,  he  was  in  the  constant 
practice  of  spending  from  one  to  two  hours  in  midnight 
reading  and  devotion.  In  these  nocturnal  vigils  he 
found  so  great  delight  and  such  increasing  happiness, 
that  while  evidently  dangerous  to  his  health,  he  could 
not  be  induced  to  relax  or  abandon  them. 

It  was  in  that  spirit  of  prayer  and  in  those  constant 
communings  with  God  in  Christ,  the  strengtli  of  this 
Samson  lay.  It  was  from  these  lie  derived  uninterrupted 
peace  and  joy.  It  was  by  these  he  was  made  victorious 
over  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil;   and  even  while 


THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION.  17 

here  on  earth,  made  meet,  in  no  ordinary  measure,  for 
the  inheritance  among  the  saints  in  light. 

To  die,  therefore,  was  to  him  an  esay  task;  nay,  it 
was  rest  from  all  his  labors.  His  work  was  done.  His 
course  was  finished,  and  he  was  ready  to  depart.  He 
yielded  himself  at  once  to  God's  will.  He  lay  upon 
his  bt^l  in  peace,  willing  that  his  friends  should  do  for 
him  all  they  thought  advisable,  but  conscious  that  his 
hour  was  come,  and  rejoicing  with  a  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory. 

Christ  and  his  righteousness  —  and  the  exceeding 
great  and  precious  promises  of  God — these  w  >re  his 
own  declared  foundations  of  faith  and  hope.  Blessed 
be  God,  while  he  is  gone  these  are  left;  and  though 
dead,  he  yet  speaketh.  For  he  obtained  mercy,  that  in 
him,  the  chief  of  sinners,  Christ  might  show  all  long 
suffering  for  a  pattern  to  them  who  should  hereafter 
believe  on  him  to  life  everlasting. 

He  was  a  pattern  to  those  who  are  still  impenitent 
sinners,  teaching  them  that,  their  only  hope  of  salvation 
is  the  mercy  of  God,  as  in  Christ  Jesus  he  is  reconciling 
sinners  unto  Himself,  not  imputing  unto  them  their  tres- 
passes. Pardon  and  eternal  life  are  not  to  be  obtained 
by  human  merit,  nor  by  man's  domgs.  They  are  the 
free  gifts  of  God's  great  and  gracious  mercy.  Not  ac- 
cprding  to  works  of  righteousness  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy,  he  saves  us  by  the  washing 
of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which 
he  sheds  on  us  abundantly  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Saviour;  that  being  justified  by  his  grace,  we  should 
be  made  heirs  according  to  the  hope  of  eternal  life. 

But  this  pattern,  like  that  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  teaches 
us  also  the  willingness  and  ability  of  Christ  to  show  this 
mercy  to  the  greatest  sinners,  if  they  will  repent  and 
100-2 


18  the  colonel's  conversion. 


believe  the  gospels  The  pattern  thus  exhibited  in  the 
Apostle,  and  in  Colonel  Y.,  lias  been  displayed  in 
every  period  of  the  church. 

What  is  the  language  of  one'/  "The  time  was  when 
I  knew  nothing  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  was  careless  of  my 
soul.  I  thought  not  of  eternity.  Sunk  in  ignorance  and  ' 
vice,  I  was  wholly  given  up  to  sensual  enjoyments.  I 
had  no  pleasure  but  in  gratifying  my  fleshly  lusts.  I 
wrought  the  will  of  the  Gentiles,  and  lived  without  God 
in  the  world.  But  the  Lord  in  mercy  brought  me  to 
myself.  By  His  Word  and  Spirit  lie  quickened  me, 
when  dead  in  trespasses  and  in  sins,  and  breathed  into 
my  soul  a  spiritual  life.  Trembling  and  astonished,  I 
was  led  to  seek  that  God  and  Saviour,  for  whom  I  had 
never  cared.  Blessed  by  the  riches  of  divine  mercy,  I 
did  not  seek  in  vain.  I  found  Him  whom  once  I  sought 
not.  I  found  him  faithful  to  his  promise,  and  mighty  to 
save.  Me  has  blotted  out  all  my  sins,  and  filled  my 
soul  with  peace.  He  has  delivered  me  from  the  bond- 
age of  corruption,  and  enabled  me  to  walk  in  newness  of 
life.  I  stand  a  monument  of  redeeming  grace,  to  the 
praise  and  glory  of  His  holy  name."  What  is  the  con- 
fession of  another?  "Once  I  loved  the  world  and  the 
things  of  the  world,  with  supreme  delight.  My  affec- 
tions were  all  set  on  earthly  objects.  My  only  aim  was 
to  grow  rich  and  increase  my  substance.  As  for  God,^L 
had  no  knowledge  of  him  ;  no  fear  of  his  wrath,  no 
desire  after  his  favor.  If  my  worldly  affairs  prospered, 
my  utmost  wishes  were  gratified.  But  the  Lord  met  me 
in  my  ruinous  course.  He  mercifully  opened  my  eyes, 
which  the  god  of  this  world  had  blinded.  He  taught 
me  to  see  the  vanity  of  all  earthly  objects  and  pursuits. 
He  taught  me  to  aspire  to  the  things  which  are  not 
seen.      He  revealed   to  me  the  only  valuable  treasure,  a 


THE    COLONEL  8  CONVERSION. 


19 


treasure  in  heaven.  There  my  affections  now  are  fixed. 
The  Lord  himself  is  my  portion.  I  prize  his  favor 
above  all  things.  There  is  none  upon  earth  that  I 
desire  besides  him.  When  he  lifts  up  the  light  of  his 
countenance  upon  me,  I  find  far  greater  and  more  genu- 
ine pleasure  than  I  ever  felt  at  the  increase  of  my  corn, 
and  cattle,  and  gold."  Listen  to  the  declaration  of  a 
third.  u  Great  has  been  the  Divine  mercy  to  me.  I 
was  long  led  captive  by  Satan  when  I  suspected  it  not. 
I  vvas  puffed  up  with  a  proud  conceit  of  my  own  good- 
ness. Because  my  conduct  was  free  from  gross  sins,  I 
presumptuously  thought  that  I  was  righteous  before 
God.  At  least,  I  supposed  that  my  good  actions  would 
fully  make  amends  for  my  evil  deeds;  and,  conse- 
quently, that  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  being  saved 
by  grace  through  faith.  But  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
take  away  the  veil  from  my  eyes.  By  his  Spirit  he 
convinced  me  of  sin.  He  showed  me  what  I  really 
was.  He  set  before  me  the  spiritual  demands  of  his 
heart-searching  law.  He  led  me  to  see  how  far  short 
my  fancied  goodness  fell  of  this  holy  standard.  Thus 
he  humbled  my  pride.  He  taught  me  to  cry  for  mercy; 
to  renounce  my  own  righteousness;  to  receive  with 
thankfulness  the  gift  of  free  salvation;  and  to  live  the 
life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  by  faith  in  the  Son  of 
God.  He  hath  brought  me  by  a  way  that  I  knew  not. 
He  hath  led  me  in  paths  that  I  did  not  know.  He  hath 
made  darkness  light  before  me,  and  crooked  things 
straight.  These  things  hath  he  done  unto  me,  and  hath 
not  forsaken  me." 

Are  you,  then,  a  trembling,  broken-hearted,  and  de- 
spairing sinner,  fearing  that  you  have  sinned  beyond 
hope  of  mercy?  Despair  not.  Look  at  the  patterns  of 
divine   mercy   set    before   you   for  your  encouragement 


20  tiie  colonel's  conversion.  " 

and  hope.  Were  they  not  brands  plucked  from  the 
burning?  And  is  that  mercy  which  delivered  them, 
shortened  that  it  cannot  save  and  deliver  you?  Oh,  no, 
sinner,  it  is  not.  Christ  is  just  as  able,  and  just  as 
willing,  to  save  you  as  he  was  to  save  them.  Yea,  to 
save  even  to  the  uttermost  all  who  come  unto  him. 
"Sir,"  said  a  gentleman  to  the  celebrated  John  Newton, 
respecting  a  notoriously  wicked  man,  "Sir,  if  that  man 
becomes  converted  and  saved,  then  I  shall  despair  of  no 
one."  «»  Sir,"  replied  Mr.  Newton,  "  I  never  have  de- 
spaired of  any  one  since  I  obtained  mercy  myself." 
This  is  the  doctrine  taught  us  by  these  patterns.  "Seek 
ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  call  ye  upon  him 
while  he  is  near.  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and 
the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts;  and  let  him  return 
unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him  j  and 
to  our  God,  for  lie  will  abundantly  pardon." 

But  again  :  the  patterns  here  exhibited  teach  us  that 
this  mercy  is  sovereign,  and  given  to  whom  Christ 
wills  to  give  it.  It.  is  only  to  be  found  when*,  and 
where,  and  how  he  wills.  And  if,  therefore,  any  sinner 
wilfully  and  knowingly  neglects  the  great  salvation, 
tramples  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  crucifying  him 
afiesh,  puts  him  to  an  open  shame  —  he  runs  fearful 
hazard  of  being  abandoned  to  final  and  hopeless  im- 
penitence. Paul  did  what  he  did  ignorantly,  through 
unbelief,  thinking  he  did  God  service,  and  Colonel  Y. 
"  thought  if  he  had  really  known  the  truth,  he  would 
have  accepted  it."  Seeing,  therefore,  that  God's  Spirit 
will  not  always  strive  with  men,  and  that  he  who,  being 
often  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck  shall  suddenly  be 
destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy,  take  heed,  lest  by 
provoking  God  to  anger  you  find  him  a  consuming  fire, 
and  now,  in  the  day  of  his  merciful  visitation,  lay  hold 
on  eternal  life. 


THE  COLONEL'S  CONVERSION.  21 

Finally,  these  patterns  teach  us  that,  through  mercy, 
a  sinner  may  become  not  only  saved,  but  sanctified. 
Christ  saves  his  people  from  their  sins,  as  well  as  from 
their  gu'tH.  He  is  a  purifier,  as  well  as  a  pacifier; 
and  imparts  his  Spirit,  as  well  as  his  grace.  He  gives 
to  all  who  believe,  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God; 
and  is  able  to  do  for  them  exceeding  abundantly,  above 
all  that  they  can  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power 
that  workeih  in  them.  So  it  was  in  the  case  of  Paul, 
and  in  the  case  also  of  Col.  Y.  So  completely  was  he 
transformed  in  thought,  word,  and  deed,  in  the  subjuga- 
tion of  pride,  passion,  temper,  and  revenge— so  humble 
was  he,  and  gentle,  and  affectionate,  and  meek  —  so 
essentially  was  he  a  Christian  in  all  places  and  in  all 
cases  —  that  I  have  never  heard  of  any  one  who  ques- 
tioned the  sincerity  or  the  reality  of  his  piety. 

And  so  it  will  be  always. 

"For  some  months,"  writes  Captain  S.  of  our  army, 
"my  kind  and  gracious  Master  has  given  me  constant 
peace  and  joy  in  believing.  How  easy  are  his  heavenly 
commandments,  when  the  Spirit  of  God  witnesseth  with 
our  spirits  that  we  are  his  children  !  Filial  love  and 
reverential  fear  can  do  all  things.  This  I  speak  from 
experience.  My  heart  is  enlarged  to  go  to  the  house  of 
the  Lord.  Though  my  private  devotions  are  answered 
with  the  smiles  of  my  God,  yet  I  have  found  greater 
tokens  of  his  approbation  and  favor  in  the  public  means 
of  grace.  I  can  truly  say  that  it  is  my  meat  and  drink 
to  do  my  heavenly  Father's  will.  I  can  pray  for  my 
enemies  with  delight.  Oh,  what  happiness  is  this! 
The  life  I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith 
of  the  Son  of  God.  I  find  that  I  can  do  all  things 
through  Christ  strengthening  me.  I  cannot  look  back 
on    former  years  without   lamentation,  when    I  consider 


22  the  colonel's  conversion. 

of  how  much  happiness  I  have  deprived  myself  by  par- 
leying with  sin  and  the  world  so  long.  But  mercy,  in- 
finite mercy,  has  found  me  out;  and  I  am  saved  by 
grace.  I  find  it  necessary  to  be  constantly  on  the 
watch-tower  of  faith,  hope,  and  love;  and  constantly 
depending  on  rny  Saviour,  I  am  enabled  to  begin,  con- 
tinue, and  end  all  my  prayers  with,  "Thy  will  be 
clone."  It  is  rny  earnest  desire  to  be  fully  transformed 
into  his  lovely  likeness,  so  that  whether  I  eat  or  drink  I 
may  do  all  to  his  glory.  I  count  all  things  dross  for  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  my  Saviour.  Oil,  may  I  be  a  liv- 
ing sacrifice  to.  him  who  lias  redeemed  my  soul!  All 
my  happiness  is  bound  up  in  his  glory.  Oh,  the  won- 
derful effects  of  grace!  Humility  has  now  superseded 
pride,  which  concealed  itself  in  my  heart  in  so  many 
ways  for  several  years.  I  now  feel  a  pleasure  in  sitting 
at  the  lowest  disciple's  feet,  to  hear  the  wisdom  ot  God, 
and  to  witness  the  triumphs  of  grace.  The  more  emi- 
nent the  piety  of  his  saints,  the  more  strongly  and  spon- 
taneously is  my  love  attracted  toward  them." 


PUBLISHED    BY  THE    SOUTH    CAROLINA    TRACT    SOCIETY. 

Printed  by  Evans  &  Cogswell,  No.  3  Broad  street,  Charleston,  S.  C. 


LIST    OF    TRACTS 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE 


SOUTH    CAROLINA   TRACT    SOCIETY 


No.  of  Numb'  r 

Tract.  of  pages 

l..Am   I   Self-Deceived 4 

2.. Have  You ? 12 

3.. The  Sinner's  Friend 20 

4. .The  Act  of  Faith 4 

5..  What    is   it   to    Believe   on 

Christ? 4 

G. . Dialogue  between  the  Bible 

nnd  a  Sinner 4 

7.  .Self-Dedication  to  God 4 

S..WhvDo  WeSit  Still 4 

P..  Ye  Shall   Not  Surely  Die..   4 

10.  .  A  Convenient  Season 4 

1  I  .  .The  Bible  the  Word  of  God  4 

12.. Three  Words 4 

13. .A  Word  of  Warning 4 

14.  .Grieving:  the  Spirit  of  God  4 

If).. Hinder  Me  Not 4 

'if... The  Soulier's  Pocket  Bible.lfi 
17..  I  Don't  Like  Professions..  4 
1>.  .The  Bible  in  my  Trunk. . .  4 
10..  How  to  Dispose  of  Care..   4 

20.. The  Way  of  Peace S 

21  .  .Quench  Not  the  Spirit ... .   4 

22.. Fatal  Delusions 4 

23.. The  Sword  of  the  Spirit..   4 

24  .  .Procra>t  [nation 4 

2").. The  Missionary's  Nephew  4 

26.  .  Lost  Convictions 4 

27.. Profane  Swearing 4 

2S.  .Obstacles  to  Conversion. .   4 

20.. The  Spirit  Grieved 4 

30. .Counsel  to  the  Convicted.   4 
31.. Every  Man    the  Friend  or 

the  Enemy  of  Christ. ...  4 

32.  .The  Soldier's  Victory & 

33.. The  Wrath  to  Come 4 

34. .What  Are  You. Fit   For?..   S 
35.. Christ   a   Covert    from   the 

Tempest 8 

36. .The  Christian   Traveller..   8 
37.  .Napoleon's    Argument    for 
the  Divinity  of  Christ  and 

the  Scriptures 8 

3S..I  Can't  Make  Myself  Differ- 
ent   8 

39,. The    Sinner    his    own    De- 
stroyer   8 


No.  of  Number 

Tract.  of  |iage§ 

40.  .The  Infidel's  Creed  ;  or.  The 

Credulity  of  Infidelity 8 

41..  Alarm   to  the  Careless 8 

42.  .True  Conversion S 

43.  .The  Christian  Officer 8 

44.. Our   War.   Our  Cause,  and 

Our   Duty If) 

45.. The    Crimean     Hero:    the 

late  Captain  Vicars 12 

46. .The  Muffled  Drum a 

47..  How    Do    You    Bear   Your 

Trials? 8 

48.  .How  Lonsr  Have  You  Been 

gjL.k  «... ]0 

49.. Soldier!     Do    You    Believe 

the  Bible? 4 

50. .The  Long  Roll 4 

51..  Mortally  Wounded 8 

52.. The  Sailor  Lost  ami  Found  8 
53.  .Captain  Deverell  ;  or,  From 

Darkness  to  Light 12 

54..  A  Word  from  the  Ladies  of 
the  Soldiers'  Helief  Asso- 
ciation  of  Charleston    to 

the  Soldier 4 

55.. Col.  Gardiner  —  as  a  Man, 

a  Christian,  and  a  Soldier.24 

5C..The  Railway  Guide 1G 

57.  .The  Confederate  Hero,  and 

his  Patriotic-   Father.... 10 

58.. The  Sailor's  Home 8 

59.  .Kind  Words  to  a  Wounded 

Soldier S 

GO.  .TheE vent fu ITwelveHours; 
or,  The  Destitution  and 
Wretchedness      of     the 

Drunkard 16 

61.. The  Dying  Robber 8 

62.  .Do  You  Prav  in  Secret  ?. . .  4 
G3..DoYou  Enjoy  Religion?..  4 
04.  .1  've  Never  Thought  of  Dy- 

ina:  So 4 

65.  .Why  Sit  Ye  Here  Idle  ?. . .   4 

66.. Come  and  Welcome*. 12 

67.  .The  Silly  Fish 4 

6S.. Why  Yet   Impenitent? 4 

69.  .Who  Slew  All  These  ? 4 


LIST    OF    T       OTS. 


Ko.  of  Numher 

Tract.  of  pages 

70.. The  Navy  Surgeon 12 

71 . .  A  True  Story  of  Lucknow  S 
72.  .The  Sailor  and  the  Soldier  S 
73..  Are  You  Not  Afraid  toDie  '  I 
74.. The  Wonderful   Escape..  4 

75.  .-The  Two  Soldiers 4 

76.. Where  Are  You  Going?.  0 
77.  .The  Young  Officer's  Siart 

in  Life 8 

7-.. Shew  Me  Myself. — 

79..  Divine  Grace  Illustrated.   4 

80.. The  Christian  Soldier S 

81.. Mustered  into  Service.. .  S 
82.. Lieut.  R.:    or.  The  Tract 

Read  in  the  Theatre...    S 

83.. Do  Thyself  No  Harm 4 

84. .  Appeal  totheYouth,and  es- 
pecially to  the  Soldiers  of 
the  Confederate  States..  16 
85.  .Very  Short  and  Very  Long, 

and  The  Strict  Search. .    8 
86.. The    Fatal    Mistake;    or, 
The  Midnight  Shipwreck  4 

87.. The  Day  of  Trial 4 

88..  My  Time  is  But  a  Day...  4 
89.  .The  Substance  of  the  Gos- 
pel    4 

90..  Noah's  Carpenters 4 

91.. Come  and  Rest 4 

92.. A  Patriotic.  Sermon 1 

93.  .Discharged — I  am  Going 

Home 4 

94.  .Anecdotes  for  the  Soldiers, 

No.  1 21 

95.  .Anecdotes  lorlheSoldiers, 

No.  2 24 

90.. A  Kind  Word  to  the  Oili- 

cers  of  our  Army 4 

97.. Soldiers   in    Hospital;    or, 

Come  to  Christ 4 

98.. The  Old  Soldier 4 

99.  .A  Letter  to  a  Son  in  Camp  4 
100.. The  Colonel's  Conversion 

—  A    Chief  of    Sinners 

made  a  Chief  of  Sainis.24 
101.. The  Muster 4 


Ko.  of 
Tract. 
102. 
103. 

104. 
105/ 


100. 


107. 
10S. 


109. 
110. 


111. 


112, 
113, 


114. 
115. 

lie, 

117 
lib, 


119 
120 
121 

122 
123 


24 


Number 
of  pages 

.The   Guard-House 4 

.An  Appeal  to  Younsr  Sol- 
diers   , S 

.Drin  lung,  Disobedience, 
and     Death 12 

.An  Affectionate  Entreaty 
—  Invitation  and  Accept 
nnce 4 

."  Here  is  my  Heart. "  with 
'•Tremble  not,  though 
darkly  gather,  etc.". .'. .  4 

.A  Help  to  Self- Dedication   1 

.Triumphant  Death  on  the 
Battle  lield 8 

.Piety  (xives  Courage  and 
Peace  in  Death 8 

.  Military  Execution  —  Sin 
Found  Out  — and.  The 
Melting  Power  of  Kind- 
ness       2 

.The  Dying  Officer  in  Bar- 
racks —  Christ  in  the 
Valley 8 

.The  Sergeantla  Story 4 

.T'h.-  I  Had  March  — and, 
The  Dead  Coming  to 
Life  Again 8 

.The  Brand  Plucked  l'n,m 
the    Fire 4 

.The  Converted  Soldier  Be- 
come a  Zealous  Mission- 
ary    8 

.The  Major's  Account  of 
Himself 8 

.The  Captain's  Speech 2 

.An  Account  of  the  Con- 
version of  several  Olli- 
cers  at  West  Point ti 

.Admiral   Lord  Gambier..  12 

.A   Word  to  the  Sick S 

.A  Soldier  may  pie  the 
Death  oftne  UighteoOs.  8 

.The   Fight  of  Faith — 

•  The  Skeptical  Young  Offi- 
cer  8 

.A  Happy  Release 8 


i 


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